At first listen, Zager & Evans’ 1969 hit song might sound silly and outdated (especially if you watch a video of their performance: http://youtu.be/izQB2-Kmiic). However, after listening more closely to the lyrics, it becomes clear that it is, in fact, hugely relevant to our current society. Through imagining the world in successive millennia (2525, 3535, 4545 and so on), Zager & Evans present a bleak future for humankind, ending, finally, in the end of man’s reign on earth. Their song is, among other things, a strong critique of modern society and a recounting of humanity’s flaws.
The particular issues Zagar & Evans address have become even more pressing in the more than forty years since the song’s release. Technology – specifically biotechnology – is at the top of this list. In the future, the lyrics suggest, we will ditch food in favor of a single daily pill, and will select our offspring out of a “long glass tube.” We won’t even need to use our arms and legs, as all physical work will be done by machines. Without the need for such basic natural functions as eating and procreating, the “man” and “woman” of the song will exist in a completely dehumanized state. The song also alludes to environmental issues, predicting that in the future man, having “taken everything this earth can give” and “put back nothing,” will live to regret his environmental abuses.
This work can be interpreted as a warning for humankind, perhaps encouraging us to keep hold of our humanity and to be responsible stewards of the earth’s resources. And with its infectious, repetitive lyrics, the song’s message might just get stuck in your head until it gets through.
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